By the time I get to my apartment, I’ve officially run out of time.I’m two minutes late.I fling off my clothes, grab the lacy dress in my closet, and use real swear words when I have to contort my body to pull up the zipper at the back.White pumps and a matching handbag later, I fly out the door again, using stop signs and traffic lights to apply some makeup and put my hair into a bun.
After parking my car nearly a block away from where I have to be, I start to run.My hair tumbles out of the bun; I’m going to die from exerting myself this hard, and I don’t know why, but I’m crying.
Oh fuck.Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.
Did I fall in love with three cocky billionaires after I explicitly told myself not to?Yes, I did.Stupidly, hopelessly, epically.
I stop to catch my breath, holding onto my sides while my heart burns even more than my limbs.What have I done?
I ignore the stares I’m getting, but I’m grateful no one is offering to help the strange girl in a lacy dress with wild hair, sobbing her eyes out on the sidewalk.
I straighten up, wipe my tears with my hands, and pull myself together.I have to do this.My friend needs me, and I won’t let him down irrespective of my broken heart.
Right.
I breathe in and out a few times and resume my sprint.It’s too late to arrive presentable, so I might as well arrive a little less late.
I’m huffing my lungs out by the time I reach the massive building.Inside, the scent of stale perfume and disinfectant hits me full in the face.
And then I see him, and my heart cracks a little.He looks so nervous and scared.I know he’s been pacing the floor, wondering if I’d make it.
Whatever tears I had to spill over my broken heart for falling in love with three—yes, all three—emotionally unavailable men, I send back into my internal reservoir for later extraction.In the dark with three pints of ice cream.
“Vivvy, I thought you wouldn't make it,” Josh says, coming toward me.A little more color in his cheeks now.
“What?No,” I say, smiling brightly and hitting his arm.“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.I told you that.Don’t mind my hair.Bad hair day.Shall we?”
“Thank you,” he says softly as I link my arm with his.
Chapter Sixteen
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Alex
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